Congressional-Executive Commission on China

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) is an independent agency of the U.S. government which monitors human rights and rule of law developments in the People's Republic of China. It was created in October 2000 under Title III of H.R. 4444,^[1] which authorizes normal trade relations with the PRC, and establishes a framework for relations between the two countries.^[2] The commission was given the mandate by the U.S. Congress to monitor and report on human rights issues with a particular focus on compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its reporting covers developments in freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, religious freedom, freedom of movement, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention or torture, and the right to a fair trial, among others.^[2] The commission publishes an annual report to the President of the United States and Congress, typically in the fall of each year. It also maintains a database of prisoners of conscience, holds regular roundtables and hearings, and issues letters to other institutions concerning human rights matters.^[3]^[4]

Work

Annual report

The CECC publishes an annual report on human rights and rule of law developments in China, usually in the fall of each year, and covers issues such as freedom of expression, worker rights, religious freedom, ethnic minority rights, population planning, status of women, climate change and the environment, treatment of North Korean refugees, civil society, access to justice, and democratic governance.^[5] The reports draw on a variety of sources, including information from human rights groups, media reports, government, and Chinese Communist Party documents.

Prisoner database

As part of its mandate from Congress, the CECC maintains a partial database of religious and political prisoners believed to be detained in China. As of June 30, 2022, the database contained 10,645 names, of which 2,506 were believed to be detained at that time, while the remainder were released, deceased, or escaped.^[6] The database was created with the assistance of the Dui Hua Foundation and Tibet Information Network.^[7]

Staff

The commission consists of a staff of researchers and analysts, and is overseen by as many as nine members each from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as senior executive branch officials. Chairmanship of the commission rotates between the majority parties from the House and Senate. The commission is currently chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).^[3]

On December 23, 2022, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that Todd Stein, CECC deputy staff director, would be one of two individuals sanctioned by China with effect from the same day. The order specified that this was in retaliation to the United States having sanctioned two Chinese officials earlier that month over human rights issues in Tibet.^[8] In an emailed comment to The Associated Press, Stein said the sanction order against him didn’t matter in light of the “thousands of prisoners of conscience jailed by Chinese authorities.”^[9]

Commissioners

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Jeff Merkley, Oregon, Co-Chair Angus King, Maine Tammy Duckworth, Illinois	Marco Rubio, Florida, Ranking Member Tom Cotton, Arkansas Steve Daines, Montana Dan Sullivan, Alaska
House members	Chris Smith, New Jersey, Chair Brian Mast, Florida Michelle Steel, California Ryan Zinke, Montana Zach Nunn, Iowa	Jim McGovern, Massachusetts, Vice Ranking Member Jennifer Wexton, Virginia Susan Wild, Pennsylvania Andrea Salinas, Oregon
Executive branch	Uzra Zeya, Department of State Marisa Lago, Department of Commerce Thea Lee, Department of Labor Daniel Kritenbrink, Department of State Erin Barclay, Department of State

Historical membership

Commissioners, 117th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Jeff Merkley, Oregon, Chair Dianne Feinstein, California Angus King, Maine Jon Ossoff, Georgia	Marco Rubio, Florida, Vice Ranking Member James Lankford, Oklahoma Tom Cotton, Arkansas Steve Daines, Montana
House members	Jim McGovern, Massachusetts, Co-Chair Tom Suozzi, New York Tom Malinowski, New Jersey Rashida Tlaib, Michigan Jennifer Wexton, Virginia	Chris Smith, New Jersey, Ranking Member Brian Mast, Florida Vicky Hartzler, Missouri Michelle Steel, California
Executive branch	Uzra Zeya, Department of State Marisa Lago, Department of Commerce Thea Lee, Department of Labor Daniel Kritenbrink, Department of State Lisa Peterson, Department of State

Commissioners, 116th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Marco Rubio, Florida, Co-Chair James Lankford, Oklahoma Tom Cotton, Arkansas Steve Daines, South Dakota Todd Young, Indiana	Dianne Feinstein, California, Ranking Member Jeff Merkley, Oregon Gary Peters, Michigan Angus King, Maine
House members	Jim McGovern, Massachusetts, Chair Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Tom Suozzi, New York Tom Malinowski, New Jersey Ben McAdams, Utah	Chris Smith, New Jersey, Vice Ranking Member Brian Mast, Florida Vicky Hartzler, Missouri 1 vacant
Executive Branch	1 vacant, Department of Commerce 1 vacant, Department of Labor 3 vacant, Department of State

Commissioners, 115th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Marco Rubio, Florida, Chair James Lankford, Oklahoma Tom Cotton, Arkansas Steve Daines, South Dakota Todd Young, Indiana	Dianne Feinstein, California, Vice Ranking Member Jeff Merkley, Oregon Gary Peters, Michigan Angus King, Maine
House members	Chris Smith, New Jersey, Co-Chair Robert Pittenger, North Carolina Randy Hultgren, Illinois 2 vacant	Marcy Kaptur, Ohio, Ranking Member Tim Walz, Minnesota Ted Lieu, California 1 vacant
Executive Branch	1 vacant, Department of Commerce 1 vacant, Department of Labor 3 vacant, Department of State

Commissioners, 114th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Marco Rubio, Florida, Co-Chair James Lankford, Oklahoma Tom Cotton, Arkansas Steve Daines, South Dakota Ben Sasse, Nebraska	Dianne Feinstein, California, Ranking Member Jeff Merkley, Oregon Gary Peters, Michigan 1 vacant
House members	Chris Smith, New Jersey, Chair Robert Pittenger, North Carolina Trent Franks, Arizona Randy Hultgren, Illinois Diane Black, Tennessee	Tim Walz, Minnesota, Vice Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Mike Honda, California Ted Lieu, California
Executive Branch	Chris Lu, Department of Labor Sarah Sewall, Department of State Stefan Selig, Department of Commerce Daniel Russel, Department of State Tom Malinowski, Department of State

Commissioners, 113th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Sherrod Brown, Ohio, Chair Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan Jeff Merkley, Oregon Kay Hagan, North Carolina	Susan Collins, Maine, Vice Ranking Member Jim Risch, Idaho 2 vacant
House members	Chris Smith, New Jersey, Co-Chair Frank Wolf, Virginia Mark Meadows, North Carolina Robert Pittenger, North Carolina 1 vacant	Tim Walz, Minnesota, Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Mike Honda, California 1 vacant
Executive Branch	Chris Lu, Department of Labor Sarah Sewall, Department of State Stefan Selig, Department of Commerce Daniel Russel, Department of State Tom Malinowski, Department of State

Commissioners, 112th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Sherrod Brown, Ohio, Co-Chair Max Baucus, Montana Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan Jeff Merkley, Oregon	Susan Collins, Maine, Ranking Member Jim Risch, Idaho 2 vacant
House members	Chris Smith, New Jersey, Chair Don Manzullo, Illinois Ed Royce, California Frank Wolf, Virginia 1 vacant	Tim Walz, Minnesota, Vice Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Mike Honda, California 1 vacant
Executive Branch	Kurt Campbell, Department of State Seth Harris, Department of Labor Maria Otero, Department of State Francisco Sánchez, Department of Commerce Nisha Biswal, Department of State

Commissioners, 111th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Byron Dorgan, North Dakota, Chair Max Baucus, Montana Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan Sherrod Brown, Ohio	Sam Brownback, Kansas, Vice Ranking Member John Barrasso, Wyoming Bob Corker, Tennessee George LeMieux, Florida
House members	Sandy Levin, Michigan, Co-Chair Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Mike Honda, California Tim Walz, Minnesota David Wu, Oregon	Chris Smith, New Jersey, Ranking Member Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Don Manzullo, Illinois Ed Royce, California
Executive Branch	Kurt Campbell, Department of State Seth Harris, Department of Labor Maria Otero, Department of State Francisco Sánchez, Department of Commerce 1 vacant, Department of State

Commissioners, 110th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Byron Dorgan, North Dakota, Co-Chair Max Baucus, Montana Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan Sherrod Brown, Ohio	Chuck Hagel, Nebraska, Ranking Member Sam Brownback, Kansas Gordon Smith, Oregon Mel Martínez, Florida
House members	Sandy Levin, Michigan, Chair Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Mike Honda, California Tom Udall, New Mexico Tim Walz, Minnesota	Chris Smith, New Jersey, Vice Ranking Member Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Don Manzullo, Illinois Ed Royce, California
Executive Branch	Paula Dobriansky, Department of State Christopher Hill, Department of State Howard Radzely, Department of Labor David Kramer, Department of State Christopher Padilla, Department of Commerce

Commissioners, 109th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Chuck Hagel, Nebraska, Chair Sam Brownback, Kansas Gordon Smith, Oregon Jim DeMint, South Carolina Mel Martínez, Florida	Max Baucus, Montana, Vice Ranking Member Byron Dorgan, North Dakota Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan
House members	Jim Leach, Iowa, Co-Chair David Dreier, California Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Don Manzullo, Illinois Frank Wolf, Virginia Bob Aderholt, Alabama	Marcy Kaptur, Ohio, Ranking Member Sandy Levin, Michigan Sherrod Brown, Ohio Mike Honda, California
Executive Branch	Paula Dobriansky, Department of State Steven Law, Department of Labor Christopher Hill, Department of State Frank Lavin, Department of Commerce Barry Lowenkron, Department of State

Commissioners, 108th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Chuck Hagel, Nebraska, Co-Chair Sam Brownback, Kansas Pat Roberts, Kansas Gordon Smith, Oregon Craig Thomas, Wyoming	Max Baucus, Montana, Ranking Member Byron Dorgan, North Dakota Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan
House members	Jim Leach, Iowa, Chair Doug Bereuter, Nebraska David Dreier, California Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Frank Wolf, Virginia Bob Aderholt, Alabama	Marcy Kaptur, Ohio, Vice Ranking Member Sandy Levin, Michigan Sherrod Brown, Ohio David Wu, Oregon
Executive Branch	Grant Aldonas, Department of Commerce Lorne Craner, Department of State Paula Dobriansky, Department of State James Kelly, Department of State Steven Law, Department of Labor

Commissioners, 107th Congress

	Majority	Minority
Senate members	Max Baucus, Montana, Chair Evan Bayh, Indiana Byron Dorgan, North Dakota Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan	Chuck Hagel, Nebraska, Vice Ranking Member Sam Brownback, Kansas Tim Hutchinson, Arkansas Bob Smith, New Hampshire
House members	Doug Bereuter, Nebraska, Co-Chair David Dreier, California Jim Leach, Iowa Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Frank Wolf, Virginia	Sandy Levin, Michigan, Ranking Member Jim Davis, Florida Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Nancy Pelosi, California (until June 2002) Sherrod Brown, Ohio (from June 2002)
Executive Branch	Grant Aldonas, Department of Commerce Lorne Craner, Department of State Paula Dobriansky, Department of State Cameron Findlay, Department of Labor James Kelly, Department of State

Historical leadership

Term start	Term end	Chair	Co-Chair	Ranking Member	Vice Ranking Member
2001	2003	Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)	Rep. Doug Bereuter (R-NE)	Rep. Sandy Levin (D-MI)	Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
2003	2005	Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA)	Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)	Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)	Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
2005	2007	Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)	Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA)	Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)	Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)
2007	2009	Rep. Sandy Levin (D-MI)	Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)	Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)	Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
2009	2011	Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)	Rep. Sandy Levin (D-MI)	Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)	Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
2011	2013	Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)	Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)	Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)	Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN)
2013	2015	Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)	Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)	Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN)	Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
2015	2017	Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)	Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)	Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)	Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN)
2017	2019	Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)	Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)	Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)	Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
2019	2021	Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)	Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)	Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)	Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
2021	2023	Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)	Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)	Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)	Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)

References

↑ "About". Congressional-Executive Commission on China. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
1 2 H.R. 4444, TITLE III--CONGRESSIONAL-EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Archived 2011-09-12 at the Wayback Machine
1 2 "Congressional-Executive Commission on China". www.cecc.gov. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
↑ "Xinjiang: Chairs Ask Whether World Bank Funding Possible "Crimes Against Humanity"". Congressional-Executive Commission on China. August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
↑ Congressional Executive-Commission on China, 2010 Annual Report, 15 October 2010.
↑ Congressional-Executive Commission on China, 2022 Annual Report, 2022, p. 44.
↑ Congressional-Executive Commission on China, CECC political prisoner database Archived 2011-11-14 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 11-13-11.
↑ Yew, Lun Tian (December 23, 2022). "China sanctions two Americans over Tibet rights controversy". Reuters. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
↑ "China sanctions 2 US citizens over action on Tibet". Associated Press.

External links

Official website

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[1] "About". Congressional-Executive Commission on China. Retrieved November 20, 2023.

[HR4444-2] 1 2 H.R. 4444, TITLE III--CONGRESSIONAL-EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Archived 2011-09-12 at the Wayback Machine

[CECC-3] 1 2 "Congressional-Executive Commission on China". www.cecc.gov. Retrieved May 29, 2019.

[4] "Xinjiang: Chairs Ask Whether World Bank Funding Possible "Crimes Against Humanity"". Congressional-Executive Commission on China. August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2019.

[5] Congressional Executive-Commission on China, 2010 Annual Report, 15 October 2010.

[6] Congressional-Executive Commission on China, 2022 Annual Report, 2022, p. 44.

[7] Congressional-Executive Commission on China, CECC political prisoner database Archived 2011-11-14 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 11-13-11.

[8] Yew, Lun Tian (December 23, 2022). "China sanctions two Americans over Tibet rights controversy". Reuters. Retrieved December 29, 2022.

[9] "China sanctions 2 US citizens over action on Tibet". Associated Press.

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